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Java Programming, Lecture Notes #1312
- Preface
- Preview
- Introduction
- Sample Bean Program
- The J2EE Application
- Summary
- Where To From Here?
- Complete Program Listing
This lesson is also the third lesson in a miniseries intended to get you up and running with Sun's Enterprise JavaBeans(TM) very quickly.
In this and the next few lessons, I will walk you through the detailed steps necessary to deploy your new bean in the J2EE server.
You will learn about jar files and ear files and the difference between the two.
You will learn that the deployment descriptor is now packaged as an XML file in J2EE (instead of a serialized Properties object as was the case in earlier versions).
You will learn about J2EE Applications, which are higher-level constructs than enterprise beans.
You will learn about the three steps required for deployment of an enterprise bean.
The lessons in this miniseries will show you the steps involved in writing, compiling, deploying and executing a simple bean. The discussion will be brief and to the point.
More details in subsequent lessons
Subsequent lessons will come back and fill in the gaps to help you more-fully understand each of the steps.
Subsequent lessons will also teach you about the different kinds of beans and how to use those beans in different situations.
Recommended supplementary reading
It is strongly recommended that you study the previous lesson entitled Enterprise JavaBeans(TM), Getting Started with EJB, Part 2 before embarking on this lesson.
Additional supplementary material that I have written is available at Gamelan. As of the date of this writing, Gamelan does not maintain a consolidated index to my Java tutorials. Therefore, they may be difficult to locate on the Gamelan site. A consolidated index with links to the tutorials on the Gamelan site is available at Baldwin's Java Programming Tutorials.
The required steps
An earlier lesson entitled Getting Started with EJB, Part 1 contained a list of the required steps for writing, compiling, deploying and executing a simple bean. Abbreviated versions of the first seven steps in that list are repeated below.
- Download and install Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition from Sun.
- Download and install the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition.
- Write the bean class and required helper classes.
- Write home and remote interfaces.
- Write a compilation batch file for the bean and the interfaces.
- Compile the bean class, helper classes, and interfaces.
- Use Sun's J2EE deploytool program to deploy the bean into the server, being careful to save the client jar file. The client jar file contains some class files for stubs and skeletons that are required by the client.
Download and install software
The first two steps (shown in blue) require you to download and install the JDK and the J2EE. I am assuming that you are able to accomplish those two steps with no help from me.
Write/compile bean and interfaces
The next four steps (shown in green) were covered in the previous lesson entitled Getting Started with EJB, Part 2. In that lesson, I showed you explicitly how to accomplish all four of those steps.
Class files available
Having completed those steps, you should now have the class files necessary to deploy your bean into the J2EE server. That is the subject of the last step in the above list (shown in black).
The last step is a big one
The last step is a big one, so I will subdivide it into several sequential lessons.
In this and the next couple of lessons, I will walk you through the detailed steps necessary to deploy your new bean in the J2EE server. I will provide that information in cookbook fashion, meaning that I will tell you what to do but not necessarily why to do it.
Beans versus beans
Just in case you are reading this lesson without having read the earlier lessons in this series, I will tell you that an enterprise bean is not the same thing as a JavaBean Component(TM), as discussed in my series of tutorial lessons beginning with lesson number 500.
Sample Bean Program
The minimum programming requirement for an enterprise bean consists of one class definition and two interface definitions.
In the previous lesson, I developed and discussed the elements of a simple bean, including the two required interface definitions. That is the bean that we will begin deploying in the J2EE server in this and the following lessons. Complete listings of the source code for the bean and the two interfaces are shown near the end of this lesson.
Required class files
At this point, you should have the following three class files as a result of compiling the bean class and the two interfaces from the previous lesson. Make sure that you have them all located conveniently in the same directory.
- HelloBean.class
- HelloHome.class
- Hello.class
The first of these is the class file for the bean proper. The second is the class file for the home interface. The third is for the remote interface.
A note about packages
When you create your own beans, you will probably want to put them in packages. However, for learning purposes at this level, the use of packages simply adds unneeded complexity. Therefore, if you examine the source code for the bean and the two interfaces, you will find that I did not use package directives. Therefore, this bean and the two interfaces are all part of the default package.
The J2EE Application
If you have done much reading on EJB, you have probably read that an enterprise bean is packaged inside a jar file. The jar file contains the class files for the bean plus a couple of other files.
The deployment descriptor
One of the other files contained in the jar file is commonly referred to as the deployment descriptor. Depending on the age of the book that you were reading, you may have seen the deployment descriptor described as a serialized version of a Java Properties object.
Another application of XML
At some point in the history of EJB, that was the case. However, as of J2EE version 1.2.1, that has changed. The deployment descriptor is now an XML file.
In case you are unfamiliar with XML files, I have published quite a few tutorial lessons on XML. You will find a consolidated index to those lessons on my web site.
The application
Also, your reading may have led you to the conclusion that the jar file containing the EJB is deployed directly into the server. That is true for some server products. However, that is not true for J2EE from Sun. Rather, with J2EE from Sun, you must first wrap the EJB jar file in an application. Then the application is deployed into the server.
Jar files and ear files
The application is also packaged in an archive file, but the extension for the archive file is ear rather than jar. Presumably this extension indicates enterprise archive.
As you are probably already aware, you can view and extract the contents of a jar file using an unzip program such as WinZip. You can also view and extract the contents of an ear file using the same unzip program.
The HelloApp.ear file
After you finish deploying this simple enterprise bean, you will have a file named HelloApp.ear. If you view the contents of that file, you will see that it contains the following files:
- meta-infmanifest.mf
- meta-infapplication.xml
- meta-infsun-j2ee-ri.xml
- ejb-jar-ic.jar
A new subdirectory
If you extract the contents of the file, a new subdirectory named meta-inf will be created and the first three files listed above will be extracted into that directory.
The enterprise bean jar file
If you view the contents of the jar file named ejb-jar-ic.jar, you will find that it contains the following files:
- meta-infejb-jar.xml
- meta-infmanifest.mf
- Hello.class
- HelloBean.class
- HelloHome.class
This is the file that actually contains the enterprise bean. Typically that file contains a manifest file, a deployment descriptor, and all of the class files required to execute the bean.
Another jar file
While we are on the subject of jar files, let me mention that there is still another jar file involved in the use of J2EE. The deployment process produces a jar file that contains material required by the client program when it accesses the server to execute the enterprise bean.
A higher-level construct
A J2EE application is a higher-level construct than an enterprise bean.
Since this series of lessons is concentrating on enterprise beans, I'm not going to go into this in any detail at this point. Suffice it to say that in addition to enterprise beans, the J2EE application can also contain web components and J2EE Application Client components.
Web components
Web components consist of servlets and JSP files. (I have published numerous lessons on servlets and JSP. You can find a consolidated index to those lessons on my web site.) Web components, when present, are packaged inside a war file. The war file is in turn packaged inside the ear file.
Application Client components
J2EE Application Client components, when present, are packaged in a jar file, which is in turn packaged inside the ear file.
Steps for deployment
The process of deploying our enterprise bean into the server will consist of the following major steps.
- Create the J2EE Application
- Package the Enterprise Bean
- Deploy the J2EE Application
There will be several individual steps that must be accomplished inside each major step.
You have learned about jar files and ear files.
You have learned that the deployment descriptor is now packaged as an XML file in J2EE.
You have learned that a J2EE Application is a higher-level construct than an enterprise bean.
You have learned about the three steps required for deployment of an enterprise bean.
Where To From Here?
Subsequent lessons will cover the packaging of the Enterprise Bean and the deployment of the J2EE Application.
Complete Program Listings
/* File HelloBean.java Copyright 2000 R.G.Baldwin Rev 9/15/00 This bean receives and returns a String object This is a stateless session bean. According to Implement the SessionBean interface. Tested using Sun j2ee and JDK 1.3 under public class HelloBean implements SessionBean{ public void ejbCreate(){ public String aBusinessMethod(String str){ public void ejbRemove(){ public void ejbActivate(){ public void ejbPassivate(){ public void setSessionContext( public HelloBean(){}//public constructor }//end class HelloBean Listing 1 |
/* File HelloHome.java Copyright 2000 R.G.Baldwin Rev 9/15/00 ***********************************************/ import javax.ejb.*; public interface HelloHome extends EJBHome{ Listing 2 |
/* File Hello.java Copyright 2000 R.G.Baldwin Rev 9/15/00 ***********************************************/ import javax.ejb.*; import java.rmi.*; public interface Hello extends EJBObject{ Listing 3 |
Copyright 2000, Richard G. Baldwin. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission from Richard Baldwin is prohibited.
About the author
Richard Baldwin is a college professor and private consultant whose primary focus is a combination of Java and XML. In addition to the many platform-independent benefits of Java applications, he believes that a combination of Java and XML will become the primary driving force in the delivery of structured information on the Web.
Richard has participated in numerous consulting projects involving Java, XML, or a combination of the two. He frequently provides onsite Java and/or XML training at the high-tech companies located in and around Austin, Texas. He is the author of Baldwin's Java Programming Tutorials, which has gained a worldwide following among experienced and aspiring Java programmers. He has also published articles on Java Programming in Java Pro magazine.
Richard holds an MSEE degree from Southern Methodist University and has many years of experience in the application of computer technology to real-world problems.


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Text description provided by the architects. The house is implanted in a strip of land between the sea and the mountains of the Serra do Mar. Both ecosystems are extremely exuberant. The mountains are covered with the native Atlantic forest (the most bio-diversified ecosystem on the planet). The beach is quite small, and scarcely occupied. The sea water is crystalline, protected by small Atlantic-Ocean islands.
A large parcel of land inside a condominium of few houses with no physical separation among them, makes the natural elements the main aspect to be considered for the building arrangement. The house is a link among the natural forces surrounding it. The house has been completely remodeled. From the original building, we have only preserved its location, its laminated-wooden structure and a few walls.
All floors and finishings have been removed and a new roof structure has been added, so as to augment the ceiling height. Remodeling had the purpose of strengthen the house's feature of being a liaison to the natural forces. The private area has been split in identical parts and the living spaces have been joined together into a single roomy space.
The house is a large rectangular platform with its longer sides parallel to the beach. The building is virtually resting on the beach sand. One of the two largest façades faces the beach and the other looks at the mountains. These large façades are composed of wide apertures and broad linear verandas. Parallel verandas in opposed façades help in the circulation for the different rooms.
We deemed conceptually important that the brickwork walls and the opaque elements should be distributed perpendicularly to the beach, so as to provide transparency and fluidity to the building (and let winds, light and views in). Mobile and transparent closing elements are distributed parallel to the beach and have been designed in order to provide maximum aperture. In the veranda, sliding doors running on independent rails may be all withdrawn toward outside the house perimeter; in the rooms, sliding doors and rolling Venetian blinds allow of light and ventilation to enter.
The house puts similar-duty activities together, so as to increase the quality of the spaces. The house's private areas have been designed to provide maximum privacy, and its common-use areas should promote maximum conviviality and spaciousness. The house has four equal, independent bedrooms, with separate entrances and direct access to the verandas.
We've tried to put the common-use areas such as living room, TV room and kitchen together in a single, broad space. Such feature promotes meeting and provides the pleasant feeling of a wide, multiple space. Unlike the living room, bedrooms have a ceiling, having therefore a lower and closer height that protects and shelters users during their rest.
The veranda is also a special-featured space. It acts as an extension of the beach sand, which is also traditionally a common-use space. The room's sliding doors' total aperture allows the room to make a whole with the veranda, therefore with the beach. So the house has now a single conviviality space; a "room-veranda-beach" space. The tactile beach sensation has also determined the choice of the sandstone-type floor.
The rectangular platform is made of reinforced concrete; it is distant from the ground, and covered with square São Tomé-stone 57x57cm plates. The original structure is composed of laminated-wooden beams. The new roof structure is made of Itaúba wooden beams, ready with metallic ties and stainless-steel screws. The roof is of the sandwich type, made of aluminum with a 50mm polyurethane filling.
The bedrooms' ceiling is made of pre-painted MDF plates. Sashes are in anodized aluminum and laminated glass. The upright closing between the metallic tile and the sashes is in crystal alveolar 10mm polycarbonate. The walls in the wet areas are covered with color vitreous-glass tiles. The furniture is composed of metallic stainless steel bases.

subset: commoncrawl


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Before the New
Year it's always nice to remember the past year and reflect. So how
was actually my 2015? I think all in all quite busy and it went by
very quickly, but when looking back on the blog, it seems that I
managed to post a decent amount of posts as well, some more
innovative than the others. Here are some of my favourite recipes,
travels and happenings from this year and I have linked back to the
old posts. I hope that you'll like this post.
This year I found
a passion for Lebanese cooking and it started directly in January
with a Lebanese dirty rice recipe. That dish has become a
standard in my cooking, but I also tried other Lebanese recipes
throughout the year. I really like the Roasted cauliflower in tahini sauce as well. This meant that I also cooked quite a lot
vegan this year without even necessarily noticing it.
In February I
cooked Sesame-roasted tofu with satay sauce and broccoli and
Lentil pancakes with chilli butter and really enjoyed both
interesting dishes. We also travelled to Bruges and what a
lovely town it was with excellent bars and veggie food. We took the
Eurostar, which is always a great experience. I'm only wondering when
can I go back!?
In March I shared
such recipes as Glamorgan sausages with potato mash and salad,
Blood orange, courgette and mozzarella salad and Irish Colcannon. I can't wait for the blood orange season again, what
will I cook with them now?
April was a busy
month of travelling for me, as I went for a couple of trips, first
to Copenhagen and Malmö with my partner over Easter and then
on my own to Finland to visit my family. Cauliflower nuggets, Potato pizza and Minestrone are among my
favourite recipes from this month.
was quite hedgehog themed. I drank Old Prickly beer, made Hedgehog shaped ravioli, baked Potato and rosemary focaccias and did
several local trips to New Forest,
Oxford and Isle of Purbeck. I also spent the
last days of this year in Oxford. It's always a pleasure visiting the
pubs and botanic gardens there and I'm going to write another Oxford
post as soon as I have time.
favourites from June are Couscous with red lentils and roasted carrots, Courgette Baba Ganoush, Onion squash quesadilla and Black bean and soya mince tacos with roasted peppers, cheese and tomato salsa.
I had
a tomato themed cooking week in July, The VegHog's Tomato Festival with many vegetarian
tomato recipes posted during that week, and that was a lot of fun. I
might repeat the event next year, but we'll see when the season
comes. In July I also cooked some Spicy veggie dogs
and Sea vegetable paella and
Mushroom and pearled spelt cabbage roulades.
I had a longer
summer holiday in August and headed to Finland again, where
else. I had a great time visiting family and different places.
Holiday also means Back to work at some point, and I started
sharing some of my work packed lunches with you, a post series that
I'm keen to continue in the New Year. I was really happy that I
finally managed to make Koshari, a very tasty Egyptian dish.
December was full
of Christmas preparations and I spent yet another family Christmas in Finland.
These posts are
very recent, so I'm only going to mention one interesting one:
Chestnut and shallot tarte tatin, which makes a very good
vegetarian Christmas centrepiece. Feel free to look back at the other
December posts, if you want.
Now my friends, I
would like to wish you a very happy New Year, may all your wishes
come true in 2016! I will now withdraw myself to my English sparkling
wine from Hattingley Valley, cheers! See you next year!
Your VegHog


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Egypt's Morsi admits mistakes and urges unity
President also promises to take necessary steps to fix economy, as Shura Council convenes with full legislative powers.
Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi has urged all political powers to take part in a national dialogue to resolve lingering tensions and promised to take necessary steps to heal the economy.
At his first address to the nation since the adoption of a new constitution, he said on Wednesday that he was considering possible cabinet changes and planned to introduce incentives to make Egypt a more attractive investment destination.
"The coming days will witness, God willing, the launch of new projects … and a package of incentives for investors to support the Egyptian market and the economy," he said in a televised speech.
Morsi spoke after Egypt's upper house of parliament convened in its first session after the passing of the country's new constitution, the first action by a state institution in accordance with a document whose legitimacy is still contested by the opposition.
The Shura Council held a swearing-in session for 90 new members appointed by Morsi.
The charter, approved by 63.8 percent in a two-round referendum that ended on Saturday, gives the traditionally toothless upper house full legislative powers until elections for a new lower house is called within two months.
The upper house of parliament has taken over from Morsi, who had given himself the power to pass laws that led to days of violent protests.
Morsi signed a decree enforcing the charter late on Tuesday after the official announcement of the result of a referendum approving the basic law, Egypt's first constitution since the toppling of former President Hosni Mubarak's overthrow.
The president is expected to address the Shura Council on Saturday.
The Islamist-dominated council is expected to draft a law regulating upcoming parliamentary elections. Other items on the agenda may include laws on protests and the media.
'Special responsibility'
The opposition National Salvation Front (NSF) claimed the constitutional process was rushed and the referendum marked by irregularities.
The NSF's leader, Mohamed ElBaradei, a Nobel Peace laureate and former chief of the UN atomic energy agency, said the new charter should be treated as an "interim one" until another is written up on the basis of consensus.
The US, which provides billions of dollars a year in military aid to Egypt, has called on Egyptian politicians to bridge divisions and on all sides to reject violence.
"President Morsi, as the democratically elected leader of Egypt, has a special responsibility to move forward in a way that recognises the urgent need to bridge divisions," Patrick Ventrell, acting State Department spokesman, said in a statement.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton took note of both the majority backing the constitution and the low turnout.
Repeating a call for dialogue, she added: "I urge those concerned, in particular the president, to intensify efforts in this regard."


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Golden era for QBs, with great stories around NFL
The two kids from Northern California burst from NFL afterthought to championship contender in eerily similar fashion a decade apart.
Tom Brady and Colin Kaepernick, each playing in a conference title game this weekend, are bookends to a fortuitous moment in quarterback history. On one side are the likes of Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, still scintillating in their mid-30s.
On the other are Kaepernick, a second-year player, and the brilliant class of rookies with Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson leading their teams to the playoffs.
Young, old and in between, the current crop of NFL quarterbacks is not only deep but dynamic and diverse.
''We're in a little bit of a boom right now. We're flowing a little bit, especially young players,'' Hall of Famer Steve Young said last week. ''If those guys continue to develop, we'll have a period of time here, kind of a Camelot of quarterbacking.''
The depth of the position shows in the other two guys joining the Patriots' Brady and the 49ers' Kaepernick in the conference championship games. Atlanta's Matt Ryan and Baltimore's Joe Flacco were first-round draft picks in 2008, and for all their successes, they're probably low on the list when fans think of the most dominant NFL quarterbacks.
Yet here they are a win away from the Super Bowl after leading stirring comebacks that answered many doubts about each.
Quarterback has long been the glamour position of all of sports, but it seems even a bit more glamorous right now. Rule changes favor a wide-open passing game, which makes a superior quarterback more valuable. Colleges and high schools run more sophisticated offenses, and the best athletes gravitate to quarterback then develop into polished passers who happen to be able to scramble.
''I can't remember - even though this is a quarterback-driven league - as many remarkable and compelling stories on the quarterback side as you're seeing this year,'' CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said.
There was that brief stretch less than 15 years ago when Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson won Super Bowls, and it seemed perhaps championship teams didn't need a star at the position. Since then, here's the roll call of victorious quarterbacks: Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, both Manning brothers, Brees and Aaron Rodgers.
Twenty-five of the 46 Super Bowl MVPs have been quarterbacks, but now it's five of the last six. In the half-dozen years before that, four were non-QBs, including two defensive players.
''It ebbs and flows, no question. There's some dark times where you have two or three guys that can truly do it,'' said Young, Kaepernick's forerunner as a dual-threat San Francisco QB and now an ESPN analyst.
Jimmy Johnson, who won two Super Bowls with future Hall of Famer Troy Aikman as his quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, was talking to Bill Belichick last summer about the recent shift. Belichick has won three championships with Brady, but even as of a few years ago, both coaches believed a title was possible behind a strong defense and running game.
Not anymore, they agreed.
''Now, the only thing that matters is if you get a great quarterback,'' said Johnson, now a Fox commentator.
Of this year's playoff teams, the only one without great stability at quarterback was Minnesota. And the Vikings had a guy named Adrian Peterson.
The bottom of the standings is full of clubs with uncertainty at the position: from the Chiefs and Jaguars to the Eagles, Cardinals and Jets.
This year, 20 quarterbacks started every regular-season game, nearly two-thirds of the league. That's by far the most since the NFL went to a 16-game season in 1978, according to STATS, four more than the previous high.
That record partly reflects a lack of injuries, in which all those rules protecting the QB may be a factor - along with, of course, sheer luck. But it also reflects how few teams benched their quarterbacks. Most clubs are quite happy with their current situation.
For all the quarterback intrigue in the playoffs, consider the big names who didn't qualify for the postseason: Brees, Eli Manning, Roethlisberger, Tony Romo, Cam Newton. And then there's Tim Tebow, who may never start again as an NFL QB but is still one of the most recognizable and polarizing athletes in all of sports.
This quarterback Camelot is about more than the deep field of effective starters. The playoffs oozed with stars popular not just for their performances but their personalities and pizazz.
''I marvel at how prepared these guys are - not only on the field, but the exposure they get off it,'' said Aikman, who will call the NFC title game for Fox. ''Whether it's through social networks or different platforms, they are given the opportunity to talk to the press and are much more well-rounded and prepared for all that comes with the scrutiny of the position than ever before.
''If you're on Park Avenue in New York (at league headquarters), you're pretty happy with the new representatives that will be the ambassadors for the league for the years to come.''
The quarterbacks in the postseason undoubtedly fascinate fans, but they do so in different ways.
''All with incredibly different kinds of stories, all with incredibly different ways of getting to the playoffs,'' said McManus, whose network airs next month's Super Bowl.
Nielsen/E-Poll calculates an ''N-Score'' to measure the endorsement potential of athletes. Peyton Manning has the top score of current QBs, but other players come out ahead in specific categories in the surveys.
In this high school yearbook of NFL quarterbacks, Brees is voted most appealing. Rodgers is the most confident, Newton the most dynamic, Griffin the most talented. Luck is considered the most intelligent and Brady the most attractive.
Their back stories sizzle. This season saw Manning return from neck surgery to lead the Broncos to the AFC's top seed and earn All-Pro honors. Brees was dealing with the fallout of the Saints' bounty scandal.
Unlike past rookie quarterbacks who reached the playoffs, Luck and Griffin were anything but caretakers riding a strong defense; both were vibrant leaders turning around franchises. And Wilson advanced deeper into the postseason than either of them.
Kaepernick is for the moment the best story of them all. The 2011 second-round draft pick opened the season as a backup to Alex Smith, who led the 49ers to the NFC championship game last year. Kaepernick played so well after Smith was injured that coach Jim Harbaugh took the gamble to stick with him - just as Belichick did with Brady 11 years earlier.
Now Brady is the grizzled veteran, though fans won't get that expected matchup with his longtime rival, Manning, after Baltimore stunned Denver.
''They're not going to last forever,'' Young said of the old guard, ''but you've got a feeling that there's some guys around that we're in pretty good shape in the next generation. Right now, as we speak, there's compelling stories all over the playoffs at the quarterback spot, which is kind of fun.''
Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL


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Infinite Crisis Video: Catwoman Whips the Competition
As one of the most popular leading ladies over in the DC Comics pantheon, it only makes sense Catwoman has joined the fray in Turbine's DC Comics MOBA, Infinite Crisis.
There's already been one Catwoman added to the roster (Gaslight Catwoman), but this version is decidedly New 52. She's got the patent leather jumpsuit, goggles and whip to back it up, and Selina Kyle certainly isn't afraid to use them.
Her mobility and attack ability give her plenty of punch in her role as a blaster. Passive ability Cat Burglar allows her to earn rapid cooldown whenever coins are collected. Her basic attack is a Whip Strike, and enemies hit at the farthest bit of the whip's range will take additional damage. Cat's Paw will deal damage while also reducing enemy movement speed, and Catwoman can use Acrobat to dodge away from being attacked herself.
Her ultimate attack, Bad Kitty, adds a bleed to all basic attacks and skills, and also turns Acrobat into Savage Acrobat. The Savage version has no cost, a lower cooldown and adds even more attack damage. You can see all the moves in action in the footage above. If you want to get in some time with Catwoman, you can still sign up for the Infinite Crisis beta right here.


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Sara Pezzini
Cop Gear
Cosplayer: Virtualgirl6654
***Shared Costume Description With Red Dress Variant***
I will admit that this costume scared the crap out of me when I decided to make it. First, I had no idea how I was going to make the Witchblade – and considering what a huge fan I am of the comic – I was not willing to do it half-assed. Second, wearing 100% latex is a frightening thought. Still, looking back, the costume was a blast to make and I am pretty happy with the results. I am not completely finished with the costume – I think I am going to add a bit more of the Witchblade armor to the boots and my chest, but I am close enough to done that I am going to keep wearing it out to conventions.
I chose to do this outfit because I think it is one of Sara's more iconic costumes. Everyone who knows Witchblade knows this costume. She was wearing it when she first came in contact with the Witchblade. That and it was when Sara was still drawn by Michael Turner. Turner made Sara who she is today. It also helped that the dress was a bit more conservative than my other options – as there was no way in hell I was just going to do the metal bikini. How funny is it that a latex dress and thigh-high boots are conservative for this character??
As far as making the costume was concerned, I learned from making my Elektra costume that I am not good sewing with tricky materials. I had a hell of a time sewing spandex, so I knew I was not going to try sewing latex by myself. I found the red boots on eBay a few months back, and decided to commission the dress through an online store specializing in corsets. They were fantastic to work with and I highly recommend them. You can find them at www.pinklabelcorsets.com
I sent them one of my Witchblade action figures who happened to be wearing the dress, picked the color, and they completed it with my measurements. They even made the gloves as a gift – which were made to my size as well. I am really happy with the results, but I might take in the bottom of the skirt a bit more. When I asked the Top Cow guys what they thought of the costume, the said that they loved it – but that it was not tight enough. Easy enough to fix!
For the Witchblade, I thought long and hard about how I was going to approach making it. Eventually I decided to use Wonderflex. However, even after testing, I was still struggling with the fingers. I decided to buy a glove from a costume shop and use it as a base. I started with a plastic gauntlet and slowly added piece after piece to form it into what it is now. When I added enough Wonderflex, I painted it silver and added texture and detail work to the glove to make it look more realistic. I love what the Top Cow crew is doing to the Witchblade in the current story arc – but I prefer the style of Witchblade from the beginning of the series. The current Witchblade is pretty – it has gold and silver and gems and looks like it was carefully forged. The original Witchblade looked raw. It looked like it was alive and it was something that you would not want to mess with. That is the Witchblade I tried to make.
After finishing the gauntlet I added the gems and secured them down with a seal of liquid latex. The gems are just clear beads with red and blue painted on the underside. After that, I was pretty much finished with the costume. I bought a long brown wig because my hair is not quite long enough to rival Sara's length, but I hope to be able to eventually use my own hair.
As I said, I am going to add some more armor to the costume and shoot it professionally (meaning outside of a convention) soon. I want to mimic the chaos and destruction of the first time Sara came into contact with the Witchblade, so the shoot is going to involve quite a few people. Now that I have the gauntlet done as well, I plan on doing a bit more of a "plain clothes" Sara in her cop garb. That way I can rip up the shirt and not feel bad about ruining my costume! Look forward to that!
***Witchblade 2.0***
So the update is complete! Over the period of several months I worked on improving my Witchblade armor. This included making a breastplate and knee pieces to break up the large mass of red from the boots, dress and gloves. I also reworked the face pieces to make them conform a bit more to my bone structure.
The chest piece was by far the most difficult and I burned myself several times in the process of making it. When finished I glued a protective layer of felt on the inside, as the hardened wonderflex tore up my arms and chest the first time I wore it. Not fun. As a final touch, I took in over eight inches off of the dress around the waist, and shortened it up a bit. The one comment I got from the Top Cow staff at SDCC in 2007 was that the dress wasn't quite tight enough. Fixed.
Shooting the costume was a blast, as I got to work with my favorite photographer Scott Miron again. He also introduced me to a makeup artist named Katie Ballard, who pulled off the perfect balance of glamour and toughness that is iconic of Sara Pezzini. I cobbled together a plainclothes version of Sara for the shoot, as I wanted to capture Sara in her cop garb. Although it was a much simpler costume–the bracelet took me all of an hour to make–I really enjoyed shooting it and am happy with how the photos came out.
We shot at various locations in Scott's studio including against a blue background that he uses to add special effects in post production.
All and all I am very very happy with the photos and I feel pretty confident that I captured the character well.


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When Google discusses using toilet water to cool a data centre, they don't exactly mean it in the way that this case mod went, but the latter is certainly easier to set up at home. Other such inventive cooling solutions have been tried, after all what good is it if the weather outside is -40o if you don't have it vented through to your PCs intake fan? However this is probably the first time someone popped a water pump into a toilet reservoir to use as an open cooling loop for a PC. With a slight change to the tubing, you could probably ensure you never have to sit down on a cold seat again. ExtremeTech has pictures of the system and its creator here.
"Hot on the heels of news that Google uses toilet water to cool one of its data centers, it has emerged that an enterprising hardware hacker had the same idea some seven years ago. As you will see in the following pictures, though, Jeff Gagnon's computer is much more than a toilet-cooled rig — it's a case mod tour de force."
Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
- Intel to push StudyBook tablet PC for emerging markets @ DigiTimes
- Dell To Acquire Wyse @ Slashdot
- Intel to release three more 35W Pentium and Celeron chips @ The Inquirer
- Samsung NX100 Digital Camera @ TechwareLabs
- Blackle vs. Google Monitor Power Consumption Tested @ PCSTATS
- Kingston Technology Joint Contest @ NikKTech


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[Mortiz Waldermeyer], the man who brought us the interactive LED pong table, has recently completed a project commissioned by Microsoft: an interactive chandelier that can receive and react to music from a Zune mp3 player. The technology behind this project which [Waldemeyer] calls Twilight is not all that complex: at the core of the chandelier is a Zune, which acts as the receiver for other Zunes in the area. The central chandelier Zune then feeds graphic equalizer display data to another device, which in turn feeds a microcontroller running the LEDs embedded in the chandelier. The chandelier itself is constructed of 15 sheets of organza fabric. The result is a rich, dancing display of lights that people in the room with a Zune can take turns controlling. The installation has just opened in LA.
7 thoughts on "Twilight For Zune"
/set satiric_mode on
I wonder which project from M$ is not revolutionary.
/set satiric_mode off
/me shrugs
sorry.. but what exactly is the point of this? or is it just a cool light show?
to try us to get zune's ???? maybe. -
it is ordinary colorofon, but this one is _for ZUNE_, and has blue neons..
so lame -
I've got a Zune and love the damn thing, I like it much better than my iPod… At this point the iPod sits permanently in the glovebox of my car as a music server while the Zune gets my pocket space.
The only problem I have with the Zune is that nothing is compatible… for me that wouldn't be a problem if the I/O port was at least well documented and there were some cheap interface cables I could use to build my own accessories.
Now I see this article and get excited that I'll finally find some good documentation on interfacing with my Zune… nope… disappointed again. Hey Hack-A-Day give me some info to hack my Zune! I started coming here because I could count on you to show me well documented hacks where I could learn and improve my own work… now I'm just perpetually aggravated because I want to know how this stuff works but it's just a bunch of pretty pictures.
remember when you used to apologize for posting hacks that didn't have full documentation? I do… it wasn't that long ago either.
If you are looking for zune cables and info you can try sparkfun, I know they have the former if not the latter.
Also I personally would be much more interested if this was from scratch, but I guess why rebuild the wheel…
So how would one go about doing this on their own? I like the concept of a LED "equalizer" (is that what it's called? The word escapes me currently).
Reminds me of back in the day when I used to hook xmas lights up to the "B" speakers on my crappy old receivers in college :)
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Being in a band is the ultimate dream for so many people--creating music, performing live and recording CDs. And best of all, you're paid to do what you love. But like any career in the arts field, it can be hard to make a living. Here's the first steps you need to take in order to make a band:
Step 1: Find Musicians
If you and your friends are in this together, perfect! You've already completed step one. If not, you'll have to find some talented musicians who share the same goals as you. So where do you start? Check local places where music lovers gather: CD stores, concerts, even your school band class. Or ask people you know. Still no luck? Then place free ads around town: on message boards, street posts and Craigslist.
Step 2: Practice, Practice, Practice
Step two is a three-tiered step. First you need to make sure you have all your required instruments. Hopefully your band mates have their own equipment. If not, save up because instruments are expensive. Then find a place to practice. You'll have to be especially nice to your parents or tenants if you want to use your house. Then agree on a music style, write songs and practice. And don't stop practicing. Think of it as a jam session. Practicing is part of the fun. If practicing feels like work, maybe a band isn't the right career for you. Make a schedule, so that every band member can commit to being there on time.
Step 3: Advertize
You have to get exposure. Give your band a MySpace page, and build a website. If you're not tech-savvy, don't worry. There are tons of sites online that provide website-building templates. Create a promotional package, complete with demo tracks, a band biography, and copies of newspaper clippings or any other press your band has received. You'll need this package to approach record labels.
Step 4: Book Gigs
Book unpaid gigs at different venues like fairs, music cafés and even school/battle-of-the-band competitions. Don't grumble at the unpaid part. Remember, you have to start on the bottom and work your way up.
Being in a band will not make you an instant millionaire. In fact, chances are you'll never become a millionaire. Most musicians are in it for the love of playing music rather than the cash flow. So while it's good to be ambitious, it's a good idea to have other career options.
Related Stories:
- Quiz! Find Your Career Path
- Becoming an Author
- Becoming an Comedian
- Becoming a Professional Voice Actor


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My students are also blogging here:
On Wednesdays, I try to break away from the lecture format and prompt the students to talk about the science of development. We're working our way through Sean Carroll's Endless Forms Most Beautiful, and yesterday we talked about chapters 3 and 4.
Chapter 3 has an overview of basic molecular biology — transcription and translation, that sort of thing — and since these are junior and senior students who've already heard that a few times, we skipped right over it and they explained to me what master genes are, with specific examples of homeobox-containing genes like the Hox genes and Pax6. They caught on fast that what we call master genes are actually just transcription factors located high up in a regulatory hierarchy.
I think we also got across a less-than-naive idea of the evolution of Hox genes. There is a recognizable, conserved motif in each of these genes, but the proteins are far more than just their homeodomains, and can exhibit considerable variation — necessary functional variation, because the expression of different Hox genes are going to have distinct morphological consequences.
Chapter 4 has a general theme of maps and geography — what does it mean for a cell to be in a particular position and to have a particular fate? We also get into details. This is a very fly-centric chapter, and we get a picture of early development in the fly and the specific patterning and positional organization in the early embryo of that organism, with an introduction to many genes we'll be hearing much more about during the course of the term. We also got enough information on vertebrate development that I could ask them to play the compare and contrast game: what's different and what's the same in fly and mouse development? I'm trying hard to be the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup of development in this class: it's so easy to say, "they're the same!" and focus on common molecular mechanisms, or to say "they're different!" and talk about the numerous quite radical innovations between them (especially in the fly, which is a weird, highly fine-tuned machine for rapid robust development). I'm trying to get across that both statements are absolutely true, and they really taste great together.
Friday is their first exam. Next Monday, class will be an overview of nematode development, to prime them for the lab exercises for the next two weeks which will be all about photomicrography of worm development and behavior, and also more details about early fly embryology to get them prepared for a couple of weeks of nothin' but flies. I also warned them that next Wednesday we'll be discussing chapter 5 in Carroll, just chapter 5, because I've found in the past that that's usually the brain-clogger chapter, with all its talk of boolean logic and gates and circuits.
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Just curious if you have or will have any free online courses available on Coursera or other learning site.
If there are courses already available: sorry for my ignorance and could links be given?
I would like to experience one of your courses.
Thank you,
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Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Data Coordinating Center for the NINDS Stroke Trials Network (U01)
Date: February 1, 2013
Publication Date of Announcement: June 1, 2013
Estimated Application Due Date: September 1, 2013
Estimated Award Date: April 1, 2014
Estimated Start Date: April 1, 2014
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) intends to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications for a Clinical Coordinating Center in the NINDS Stroke Trials Network (U01) . The goal of this initiative is to harness multidisciplinary stroke expertise to work together in an efficient manner to conduct exploratory NINDS-sponsored phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of stroke with the goal to quickly move potential treatments into larger, confirmatory phase 3 trials. The initiative will provide support to develop, promote and conduct high quality, multi-site clinical trials in stroke focused on key interventions in prevention, treatment, and recovery with the objective to have a balanced portfolio between all three approaches. Exploratory phase 2 and confirmatory phase 3 clinical trials as well as biomarker-validation studies that are immediately preparatory to trials will be coordinated through separate Data and Clinical Coordinating Centers (DCC and CCC). Efficiency will be encouraged through the use of master trial agreements and a central IRB. Leaders drawn from both the clinical and basic stroke science communities at the sites will contribute to the development of network clinical trial applications for peer review, as well as planning for execution of applications coming from outside of the network, including trials that result from a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between the NINDS and an Industry partner. The Network will also be uniquely poised to rapidly collaborate with other existing networks, such as the NINDS Neurological Treatment Trials Network (NETT), or International Consortia to conduct larger, definitive trials of promising interventions for the treatment of stroke. See http://www.ninds.nih.gov/find_people/ninds/OSPP/Stroke-Research-Priorities-Meeting-2012.htm for a description of the Stroke Priorities for this network.
This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and competitive research programs.
The FOA is expected to be published in Spring 2013 with an expected application due date in September 2013.
This FOA will utilize the U01 activity code. Details of the
planned FOA are provided below.
The NINDS Stroke Trials Network will utilize Cooperative Agreements (U01) to support a Data Coordinating Center in the Stroke Trials Network for up to 5 years. The Statistical and Data Coordinating Center (DCC) will support protocol data management, data quality control (including data monitoring), and undertake interim monitoring, analyses and reporting for the Clinical Coordinating Center, NINDS, and Data and Safety Monitoring Boards (DSMBs). The DCC will also initiate and coordinate activities to promote standardization of data elements using the NINDS Stroke common data elements and support an aggressive sharing policy for de-identified data.
Please direct all inquiries to:
Scott Janis, Ph.D.
Program Director
Office of Clinical Research
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Room 2170, MSC 9525
6001 Executive Blvd.
Bethesda, MD 20892-9525
Telephone: (301) 496-9135
Fax: (301) 410-1080
Email: email@example.com
Website: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/find_people/ninds/bio_scott_janis.htm


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~ Emma shows the surprising amount of coverage offered by Laura Merciers Tinted Moisturiser over at BirdsDecorateBranches!
~ Whitney from Whitz World of Beauty tells the adventure of her Spa Day at Alexis K in Solana Beach, California!
~ Pink Diva's Beauty Spot has been busy trialling and testing new NIVEA skin care. Check out her honest product reviews on the products and share your thoughts on the brand.
~ Rachel discovers duochrome nails with the new Accessorize range over at at Queen of Turquoise.
~ Readers at Lipglossiping.com share their tried and tested tips for recreating the ultimate salon blow dry DIY style!
~ Beautywoome highlights the rebirth of the early '90s cream-mauve-plum nail.
~ Phyrra's Indie Spotlight for November is one to be thankful for! It's an exclusive interview with Tammy from Meow Cosmetics.
~ The Gloss Goss found love in the form of Chanel Extrait de Gloss and ended up going back for more.
~ Retrodiva has five steps for getting glowing skin just in time for the holidays.
~ Madame B Fatale talks about how she likes to get hair free for summer.
~ Join in the weekly This or That fun over at Audrey Dao – Confessions of a Beautyholic.
~ The Lip Print go pink crazy with Lush's Snow Fairy Christmas treats!
~ Blaq Vixen Beauty recently learned that the CoverGirl Queen Collection is getting an upgrade in the lipstick collection come January 2011.
~ Jellyminx reveals a brief history of her hair through some comical photos!
~ Krasey Beauty takes a look at some of the newest editions to the Ellis Faas cosmetics range, just in time for the holidays.
~ Do you love NARS Orgasm but hate the price? Katie at My Lips But Better has the scoop on a dupe!
~ Makeup Zombie has a Blush Showdown featuring the cult classic NARS "Orgasm" blush!
~ Sarah at IHeartCosmetics decides once and for all if Cloud Nine hair straighteners are better than GHD ones.
~ Did you miss Toronto IMATS 2010? Don't worry Jenn from Spiced Beauty has the full event coverage here.
~ Jeweled Thumb discovers a Chanel Paradoxal dupe that has arrived on American shores!
~ Amy Antoinette has afternoon tea with Alexa Chung at the Lacoste Touch of Pink perfume launch.
~ Daily Polish finally conquers an 18 month lemming with Jessica's Birds of Paradise…possibly the most beautiful purple polish in existence? You decide!
theNotice gets a new "home" (okay, a new url…) and is celebrating with a flatiron giveaway!
Beauty Crazed not only shows you all of the Givenchy holiday fragrance sets, they are giving one away!
Make a Wish Smashbox's Perfect Pencils set on Prime Beauty–it may come true!


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Forty days after Algeria's president was hospitalized, the country is stuck in limbo with its normally predictable politics thrown into disarray.
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's absence during a key visit by the powerful Turkish premier has reignited questions over his health and the future of Africa's largest nation. Laws remain unpassed, important reforms unimplemented and succession murky as he convalesces in a French hospital.
The rampant speculation over the condition of Bouteflika, who had a "mini-stroke" April 27 and disappeared to Paris for treatment, had been subsiding in recent weeks until newspapers close to top officials hinted the president would be appearing for the landmark Turkish visit.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived Tuesday and left Wednesday and Bouteflika was once again nowhere to be seen, reviving the question whether the ailing 76-year-old would even finish his current term - much less run for a fourth as had been widely expected.
Though Algeria is ostensibly a multi-party democracy with regular elections, power is held closely in the hands of the president and certain generals and in Bouteflika's absence, the machinery of government has ground to a halt.
"The system depends in many ways on the man on the top and when he's not there it doesn't function with the same efficiency and confidence so a lot of things in Algeria are on hold until his return," said William Lawrence, the North Africa analyst for the International Crisis Group.
All new laws must be discussed and amended by the president's cabinet before they are inevitably approved by the national assembly, but the cabinet hasn't met since December.
The supplementary budget law has usually been approved by now and set to go into effect July 5, but it remains frozen.
The new audiovisual law, a key part of the much-trumpeted reform of the media that will allow private television stations to operate, is also in hiatus.
A commission was set up in March to amend the constitution ahead of April 2014 presidential elections - another reform promise stemming from the Arab Spring - but it too has stopped meeting.
The reason for the president's continuing absence and dearth of information aside from bland statements about his continuing vigor is that he is in a very serious condition, said Chafiq Mesbah, a retired colonel from the intelligence service turned analyst.
"I have information from high level French officials that President Bouteflika will not be resuming his activities, even if he returns to the country," he told The Associated Press.
In light of such dire predictions about his health that have already appeared in the French press, there has been a growing clamor from Algerian opposition politicians for the implementation of Article 88 of the constitution relieving a president of his duties for health reasons.
Don't expect any quick legal fixes to this impasse, however, asserted Mokrane Ait Larbi, a constitutional lawyer and political analyst, who expressed doubt that the necessary constitutional measures would be taken.
"Don't forget that Tayeb Belaiz, the president of the Constitutional Council, is a personal friend of the president and I'm certain he will never convene it," he said. "The situation could continue for a long time."
Time may not be a luxury that Algeria has. Up until now, the oil- and gas-rich nation has cushioned itself from the turmoil brought on by the Arab Spring elsewhere in North Africa with promises of reform and the generous spending on salaries and projects.
Unrest and demands for jobs and housing have continued to bubble under the surface, however, and the gradual fall of the global price of oil doesn't bode well for Algeria's policy of buying the social peace.
The Algerian system has long been marked by adopting any change at a very gradual pace and the generation that founded the state after it won its independence from France in 1962 still runs the show.
Bouteflika had been expected to run for another term in the 2014 elections and then step down after a few years in favor of a candidate agreed on by the elites, but now the timetable for succession has been moved up.
"The system can still handle his absence for a while to give time for the different clans to agree on another person to succeed Bouteflika," said analyst Mohammed Saidj. "Psychologically the Algerians are already thinking post-Bouteflika."
By all accounts, however, consensus on a new leader is still far away and the main ruling parties are wracked by internal divisions of their own.
According to Lawrence the system should be fine for a while, but the time is running out.
"All systems know how to operate on autopilot for a certain period of time," he said. "Most systems, including Algeria, will come under strain if this goes on for more than two or three months, at this point you would need decisions to be made by Bouteflika or by his staff or someone needs to step into the void."


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Find out the Details!
Natal'ya (ID: 29274)
- Age:40
- Date of birth:March 21, 1983
- Zodiac: Aries
- Height:5' 7" (171 cm)
- Weight:112 lb (51 kg)
- Hair color:Brown-haired
- Eyes color:Brown
- Country:Moldova
- City:Chisinau
- Religion:Orthodox
- Marital status:single
- Children:No
- Smoke:no
- Alcohol:Socialy
- Profession:student
- Education:student
- English language:Fluent
- Others foreign languages:No
- Seeks partner:40 - 60 years old
Hobbies and interests:
I like listening to modern dance and jazz music, and I collect reels. I like reading books on philosophy and psychology. I like watching scientific and historical programs. I prefer fish delicacy. I also like traveling during summer.
About me:
I'm a very quiet and love my home. I have a realistic view on life. I'm very purposeful and decided. I'm very diligent and I like the cleanliness and comfort in the house. I like exotic flowers and I cultivate them.
Looking For Men Type:
I would an important businessman with a serious political platform and various artistic interests; or a famous big entrepreneur in the field of fashion business. Of course these are my dreams (smile), I want a simple independent man.
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This took me wayyy too long.
THE TRICK IS TO FIND THE MAN IN THE COFFEE BEANS: It's bizarre - after you find the guy - it's so obvious. Once you find him - it's embarrassing, and you think, why didn't I see him immediately?
Doctors have concluded that if you find the man in the coffee beans in 3 seconds, the right half of your brain is better developed than most people. If you find the man between 3 seconds and 1 minute, the right half of the brain is developed normally. If you find the man between 1 minute and 3 minutes, then the right half of your brain is functioning slowly and you need to eat more protein If you have not found the man after 3 minutes, the advice is to look for more of this type of exercise to make that part of the brain stronger.
And, yes, the man is really there.


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By Rob Capriccioso, Indian Country Today Media Network
Senators are speaking out after confirming Sally Jewell April 10 by a vote of 87 – 11 to become the next secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, saying she will be strong on American Indian issues as she encounters them in her new position—a position that includes oversight of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Jewell, 57, was most recently the CEO of an outdoor gear and clothing company called Recreational Equipment Inc., and she is a former commercial banker and oil company engineer, as well as a longtime advocate for conservation and outdoor recreation.
In her previous positions, Jewell hasn't done a lot of specific work on Indian-related issues, which she admitted during her confirmation hearing, yet some Indian leaders say she has done enough to know that she will be a positive advocate. For instance, she was part of the Board of Regents at the University of Washington, which approved the construction of the university's new $5.8 million longhouse.
Billy Frank, a Native American environmental advocate, has issued his strong support, as have Fawn Sharp, Chris Stearns, and other Indian leaders.
Several senators also say they believe Jewell will be good for Indian country.
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, has met with Jewell multiple times and has discussed a number of issues important to Indian country, according to the senator's staff. On March 7, at Jewell's confirmation hearing, Cantwell asked Jewell for her "comments on the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which will be part of your responsibilities. And whether you would commit to protecting treaty rights and incorporating tribal input into the Interior resource decisions?"
"I'm fully committed to upholding the sacred trust responsibilities that we have to Indian tribes and Indian nations," Jewell replied. "And building and strengthening the nation-to-nation relationship that we have with tribes. I know this is a very important part of the Department of the Interior. … I'm certainly very interested in becoming more steeped in those issues and it has come up across the board in almost every one of my meetings with senators so far. So I very much look forward to taking this part of the role extremely serious."
Cantwell further asked Jewell whether she supports energy development on Indian lands.
"Some tribes are blessed with natural resources and I think leaning into those resources to help the tribes economically as well as help the country by finding sources of energy development are really important," Jewell said. "I know that businesses and tribes want certainty, in terms of the regulations. And I know that there have been issues with the Bureau of Land Management on how the leases occur. And I certainly will look into furthering that development."
The comments from Jewell were not enough to convince Sen. John Barrasso (D-Wyo.), the vice-chair of SCIA, to vote for her confirmation. He was tough on her ties to conservation groups during her confirmation hearing, and he ended up being one of the 11 Republicans to vote against her confirmation.
Sen. Jon Tester's (D-Mont.) office said he is interested in bringing Jewell to Montana to see firsthand the issues involving his state's tribes. Based on conversations prior to her confirmation, Tester believes she will be a strong advocate for Indians, his spokeswoman said.
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, predicted in a press release that Jewell will be an "outstanding" secretary.
"As fellow engineer, I am confident that Ms. Jewell will use science as her guide in addressing the challenges that lie ahead, including managing our nation's land and water, and expanding safe and responsible energy production," Heinrich said. "Ms. Jewell shares my commitment to Indian country and to protecting our natural heritage for our children and for generations to come. And she knows firsthand that conservation and growing the Western economy are inextricably linked."
On the House side, Don Young (R-Alaska), the leader of the Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs, has not yet met with Jewell, but he has plenty of thoughts on how she can work to strengthen Indian country.
"One of the most important things she can do as Secretary is reorder the pecking order of the bureaus within the Department to give Indian Affairs equal standing with the others," Michael Anderson, a spokesman for Young, said. "Additionally, one of the Department's most solemn obligations is to ensure federal laws and policies dealing with tribes are beneficial to American Indians and Alaska Natives, and Congressman Young looks forward to promoting that message and building a strong relationship with Secretary Jewell in the days and months ahead."
Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawaii), the ranking member of the Indian-focused subcommittee is also interested in meeting with Jewell as soon as possible, according to the congresswoman's staff.
President Barack Obama, upon receiving word that the Senate had confirmed Jewell, also mentioned her impending relationship with Indian country in a statement.
"Sally's commitment to energy and climate issues, her belief in our strong government-to-government relationship with Indian country, and her understanding of the inherent link between conservation and good jobs ensure that she will be an exceptional Secretary of the Interior."
Jewell was sworn in April 12 in a closed-door ceremony, immediately replacing outgoing Secretary Ken Salazar. She is the 51st Secretary of the Interior.
Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/04/15/senators-confirm-sally-jewell-lead-interior-predict-she-will-be-good-indian-country


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Today we introduce our newest author, Amy! Amy and husband Jeremy have been married 7 years and have 2 small boys. She enjoys chronicling the simple adventures of their little family through photos, and is also an expert at making a beautiful home out of yard sale/flea market furniture! You can visit Amy at her blog, JerAmy ~ Kim A.
Well, hello there! I am so very happy to be joining Habits for a Happy Home! I look forward to our adventures together.
Since my husband and I did not meet and marry until our late twenties, being a wife and mom is a gift I do not take for granted. I thank our God daily for His graciousness in giving me this beautiful life that I live. Life definitely comes with its challenges and changes {which we have seen quite a bit of over the last year;} but I am so thankful that we have a Heavenly Father who delights to give us good things, even in the middle of changing circumstances. My little family is definitely one of those good gifts.
Here we are!
~ Written by Amy @ JerAmy


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Enlighten any environment while putting a little bounce in your day. Perfect for use in a variety of applications including collaboration spaces, lobby areas, meeting rooms and personal workspace. Designed with a 17 1/2" (anti-burst) exercise ball, this chair provides an active seating experience to potentially increase concentration and retention while helping to promote better posture and balance through building core muscle strength. Powder-coated steel legs and stationary glides. Pump included.
Our warranty is a way of pledging excellence in the quality of our products. It is a way of protecting our customers' investments and continuing product improvement. Mostly, our warranty is a way of extending our dedication to our customers. LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY:Safco warranty obligation: We pledge to repair or replace, at Safco's option, any Safco product or component that is defective in material or workmanship for as long as you, the original purchaser, own it. This warranty is subject to the provisions below. LIABILITY LIMITATIONS:The following listed parts, components and supplies are covered under warranty in accordance with the below schedule following the product purchase date. Twelve Years: Wood seating Ten Years: Seating controls and Rumba Series Laminates Five Years: Glides, casters, and polymer-based components, user-adjustable work surface mechanisms, seating upholstery fabrics, foam, laminates, veneer finishes and other covering ....................... materials, drawer glides and power strips. WARRANTY SUBJECT TO EXCLUSIONS:Exclusions pertaining to this warranty are as follows but are not limited to: Product or product components utilized with the intent to rent or lease. Freight damages: Safco is not liable for any product damages sustained during shipping or handling operations. Safco provides specific policies and requirements regarding shipping and handling and reserves the right to review and address product distribution matters separately. Normal wear and tear. Product negligence: A product is not considered defective upon improper installation, or misuse of the product or its components. Alterations or attachments to the product that were not approved by Safco. All corrugated products or components. Safco's warranty obligation is limited to normal use upon receipt of our products. Normal commercial usage for seating is defined as the equivalent of a single shift, forty (40) hour workweek. To the extent that a seating product is used in a manner exceeding this, the applicable warranty period will be reduced in a pro-rata manner. Models warranted for multiple shifts: Task Master® industrial series Soft-tough® series Workfit® polyurethane series Uber™ series Alday™ Intensive Use (500 lbs.) Vue™ Intensive Use (500 lbs.) WARRANTY PROCEDURES:Please follow the warranty procedures described below to ensure aptly responsive service. Once a defect has been discovered, the original purchaser must contact Safco immediately (within 30 days of defect detection) with the serial number(s) from the product(s) in question. Upon inspection of the product(s), Safco will collect all relevant information necessary for review of the request. Product replacement, replacement parts, and repairs will be authorized by a customer service representative if acknowledged to be necessary under product warranty eligibility conditions. SPECIFIC LIMITATIONS REGARDING COLOR VARIATIONS, FABRICS AND FINISHES:Natural products have varying grains and colors. Due to such natural variations occurring in materials such as wood and leather, these characteristics are not considered defects. Safco does not warrant the color-fastness or matching of colors, grains or textures of such materials. Materials supplied, selected or provided by the customer (COM) are not warranted. THERE ARE NO OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED OTHER THAN THOSE CLEARLY STATED HEREIN. ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION. ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. Buyer is responsible for freight to and from factory on all warranty claims. Any description of the goods sold here under, including any reference to Buyer's specifications and any description in catalogs, circulars and other written material published by Safco, is the sole purpose of identifying such goods and shall not create an express warranty that the goods shall conform to such description. SAFCO WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES NOR FOR ANY SUM IN EXCESS OF THE PURCHASE PRICE. OFFICE HAPPINESS™
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text: I was born and raised on the family farm, 10 miles out of Choteau. I grew up listening to KEIN, and spinning records on my pink 45 player. I'm a great cook. I didn't say I liked to cook. I said I can cook, like any girl raised on a farm with hired hands. When I was 15 we moved to "the city", and I finished up school at Great Falls High. Thanks to a lovely woman named Kat Phillips, I was allowed to sit in on a radio show, and ended up at the May School of Broadcasting a couple of months later. I've worked at radio stations since I was 18, and I've been all over Montana, with one stint in Oregon. This is my second chance to be on the air in Billings, only this time, I'm on the MONSTER they call the Cat. I have a bucket full of kids and grand kids, love my dogs and live to garden. My favorite smell is, wait for it, dirt. I'm not kidding.


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The Hispanic Market in the United States
Hispanics Economics develops solutions that deliver a sustainable competitive advantage for organizations reaching out to the Hispanic market in the United States and Canada.
The United States is in the throes of fully becoming a bilingual consumer economy; the U.S. became the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world 2009.
Is your organization ready for an economy in which English is no longer the lingua franca?
Hispanics are expected to become the plurality by the end of the century.
Is your organization ready for a United States where the largest demographic is not Anglo-Protestant in outlook?
U.S. Hispanics are expected to control almost $1 trillion in purchasing power by 2010.
How can your organization reach this consumer market?
At Hispanic Economics, our in-culture, multi-lingual strategies deliver specific recommendations and identify solutions that allow organizations to understand the cultural differences and social nuances that differentiate the various Hispanic identities in the United States. With a staff of experts who have diverse backgrounds and are versed in the national histories that comprise U.S. Hispanics, Hispanic Economics is uniquely positioned to offer tupi tea the right solution.
In 2012, Hispanics Economics is pleased to advance the interest of Latinos in the American workplace.
To achieve this, there are two books being published specifically for Latinos. One, written by Rose Guilbault and Louis Nevaer, is directed to Latinas � how to advance their careers and advance up the corporate ladder. The second book, by Louis Nevaer, focuses on teaching business Spanish to U.S.-based Hispanics. Together these books will help Latinos get on with the business of suceeding in the American workforce.
Quick, how do you say "budget" in Spanish? How would you translate the phrase, "To Whom It May Concern"? Why is "application" not the same as "aplicación"?There's a difference between everyday Spanish and business Spanish!
This hands-on guide to Business Spanish is a must-have book for Hipanics and Latinos working in the U.S.
As the United States becomes a bilingual consumer economy, Hispanic and Latino professionals find that their lack of fluency in Business Spanish creates a linguistic obstacle that hinders their progress in advancing their careers.
What are the key words and phrases that everyone must know if they are to make themselves understood clearly when speaking or writingBusiness Spanish? This book provides the more than 250 words and phrases that translate into career success.
Speak BUSINESS SPANISH like an EXECUTIVE: Avoiding the Common Mistakes that Hold Latinos Back provides the necessary vocabulary that gives confidence and assures the speaker. Written with wit and in a conversational tone, the book is never condescending and always illuminating.
Consider the following entries taken from the book:
Application / SolicitudThis is undoubtedly among the most misunderstood words by Latinos when speaking business Spanish. For those of us living in the Hispanic Diaspora where people say things like, "They have to submit their completed applications before they can be considered for the position," it's only natural to think that the word in Spanish for "application" is "aplicación." But in Spanish, aplicación is literal: You can apply paint to the wall or polish to your nails, but you cannot apply for employment. (Aplicación, by the way, also means a computer program.For example, Microsoft Word is the aplicación most commonly used for business writing.) The word in Spanish for application is solicitud. Why? Because when you apply for a job, you are soliciting for a position. In British English the same logic applies: One has to submit a solicitation for employment in order to be considered for that position. Make yourself well understood by others by reminding them that they are required to "llenar una solicitud para empleo" if they want to apply for employment.
Office / Oficina or Bufete or Consultorio or Despacho"I'll see you at my office," is a common expression. "Fine, I'll be there." How do you say office in Spanish? Do you think I'm joking? Isn't oficina Spanish for office? Yes, that's right. Everyone knows that. In business Spanish, however, there's a long tradition of being more specific about the nature of one's office. Oficina means office, but it also means a workshop and the lower apartments in a building, what corresponds to the cellar in English. Of more immediate concern, Spanish still maintains the tradition of using specific names for different professions. A doctor doesn't have an office; a doctor has a consultorio. Why? That's where he or she gives medical consultations. Attorneys and Public Notaries work out of a bufete, since that word suggests an office designed for writing documents and storing archives. Public officials, executives and scholars work out of despachos, since that word implies offices from where orders or instructions are issued (dispatched). There's nothing wrong with using oficina, but be mindful that you will encounter consultorio, bufete and despacho in the course of conducting business in Spanish, and you need to know the differences between them.
Support / Apoyar"Without your support, our sales force will not be successful," the memo, sent via e-mail on a droid, stated. OK, so it's an impersonal pep talk, right? But these days one has to take encouragement where one finds it. And while I want to support you as much as possible in forging ahead in your career through a better understanding and command of business Spanish, I have to take a tough stand and remind you that I will be displeased if you have the nerve to tell me that support in business English is soportar in business Spanish. It is not. In Spanish, soportar means to endure, to bear, to put up with or to be forced to tolerate. (See "Put up with.") On the other hand, in business English, support means to sustain, to maintain, to lend encouragement and to back. These ideas are conveyed by the word apoyar. Sin su apoyo, nuestro equipo de ventas no tendrá éxito, is Spanish for, Without your support, our sales force will not be successful. Be mindful that sostener also means support, but this is primarily in a non-business context. If someone is frail and they need help standing up, then you can support them, or sujetar or sostener, by physically holding them up. If your child is out of school and unemployed, it might be necessary to sostener their living expenses for the time being. In business situations, on the other hand, most kinds of support are adequately expressed in Spanish by apoyar.
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Time / HoraIt's time for this, and it's time for that. It's time to sit down and work on that report. It's time to go to the conference room for the conference call. It's time to head to the airport. It's time to go over the PowerPoint presentation. It's always time for something or other in business English. Not so in Spanish! It's never time for anything … but it's time for the appointed hour, which has arrived! Remember that in Spanish time—tiempo—refers to the weather, or a specific period of time, such as a season, a harvest, or defined period of time with specific dates (such an epoch, a political period, a social movement, a time of warfare). As a result, in business Spanish, time is hora. It's time for the conference to begin is translated as Es hora para que comienze la conferencia. In business, if it's time for something, then the word to use is hora.
Imagine an entire book that explains business Spanish in such a manner.
Speak BUSINESS SPANISH like an EXECUTIVE: Avoiding the Common Mistakes that Hold Latinos Back is indispensible for Hispanics and Latinos who want to move up within their organization or in their field.
Features• Conversational explanations of words, phrases and their meanings• Provides Spanish-language equivalents for technical words associated with the Internet• Practical tips and techniques for using language to advance your career• Wisdom from mentos for Latinos beginning or in mid-career
Highlights• Includes original research on the acceptable vernacular for Spanish as used in the U.S. • Explores how linguistic aptitude translates to career advancement• Offers a distinct perspective on breaking down barriers Latinos encounter• Examines the challenges specific to Latinos encounter in the American workplace
This hands-on manual provides Latinas with the tools they need to succeed at work by examining some of the societal and cultural obstacles that hinder their progress.By 2050, one in four American workers will be Latina. Yet members of this group are currently among the lowest-paid employees and are afforded the fewest opportunities in the workplace. This inspirational book encourages Hispanic/Latina women to challenge the inequities in their cultural ideology which hamper workplace success, while teaching them the work skills necessary to advance their careers.Despite being 20 million strong, Latinas represent America's most undervalued human resource. This career guide is the only one of its kind to focus specifically on empowering the working women of the Latina community to embrace success and build skills for workplace advancement.The Latina's Guide to Success in the Workplace explores the complexity of the Hispanic/Latino identity and the impact of this culture on professional mobility. The author asserts that there are five obstacles which Latinas confront within their own belief system: the idea that women do not need an education; the assumption that the needs of men come first; a belief that it is sinful to desire money; the opinion that Latinas should not be ambitious; and the mindset that successful women in the United States lose their femininity. Throughout the book, up-to-date research, case studies, and inspirational interviews offer strategies for overcoming the cultural factors that limit Latinas and providing a roadmap for achieving success.Features� Case studies that illustrate inspirational stories of Latina women� A list of recommended behaviors for becoming successful at work� Practical tips and techniques for creating a career path� Interviews with some of the most successful Latinas in the United StatesHighlights� Includes original research on Latinas � Explores how certain cultural qualities in the workplace are favorable� Features books, studies, and reports authored by women� Examines the challenges specific to Latinas in America
Managing Hispanic and Latino Employees: A Guide to Hiring, Training, Motivating, Supervising, and Supporting the Fastest Growing Workforce Group
Hispanics are the largest minority group and the fastest growing demographic in the United States. But their supervisors are often non-Hispanics who do not understand how they see the business world and so are not able to work with their Hispanic employees effectively. Drawing on his own ethnic background and years of experience as director of the organization, Hispanic Economics, Louis Nevaer identifies three overarching concepts that inform Hispanic culture and that often result in behaviors and beliefs very different than, and sometimes seemingly at odds with, those of non-Hispanics. Using a wealth of specific examples, Nevaer shows how an awareness of the importance of these concepts can help managers create a welcoming work environment, increase productivity and employee engagement, and develop a dynamic and committed Hispanic workforce. As Hispanics become an ever-larger segment of the workforce, organizations who fail to make them feel welcome and valued risk losing access to a significant source of talent and innovation.
HR and the New Hispanic Workforce: A Comprehensive Guide to Cultivating and Leveraging Employee Success
The growing influence of Hispanics in the workforce has taken on a new urgency: considered by many HR experts to be one of the most significant challenges facing corporate America today. With a wealth of research and best-practice examples from corporate America's elite, these expert authors deliver both the strategies and the hands-on tools-detailed checklists, sample questionnaires and forms, and a helpful summary at the end of each chapter-to address such key issues as the increasing use of Spanish in the workplace; the need for quantitative tools for performance reviews; the need for new recruitment strategies; and benefit program changes that take into account the differing experiences, values, and needs of Hispanic workers.
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On Eve of Major WTO Meeting, 112 Civil Society Groups Tell U.S., EU: Stop Blocking Discussion of Strong Financial Regulation
September 27, 2012
On Monday, October 1st, the World Trade Organization (WTO) will make a decision on Ecuador's proposal to set up a process to discuss whether WTO rules leave policy space for robust financial regulations, including capital controls. This week, 112 major global consumer, labor, environmental and development organizations issued a strong statement urging their governments to support Ecuador's proposal and ensure that global "trade" rules do not undermine countries' ability to strengthen their own financial regulations to avoid future crises.
The 112 civil society organizations comprising the impressive list of signatories represent hundreds of millions of members from 160 nations. This includes the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), which represents 175 million workers globally, and Consumers International, an umbrella organization of 240 consumer organizations operating in more than 120 countries.
A powerful bloc of countries supported a proposal for a formal review of these WTO rules in late 2011, but some WTO members, including the United States and the European Union, blocked it. Now, the same countries have indicated their intent to quash this proposal to even discuss the issue of policy space for crucial financial regulations, much less consider updates to the old rules.
More than 100 countries, including many developing nations, have commitments under the WTO financial services rules. Countries that seek to re-regulate the financial sectors that they previously bound to comply with the WTO's regulatory limits could face a WTO challenge and trade sanctions. To avoid such liability, they would need to avoid sensible post-crisis policies, such as banning risky financial services, limiting the size of financial institutions, imposing firewalls between commercial and investment banking, and using capital controls.
A clarifying discussion on the importance of capital controls, which even the IMF has accepted as a crucial policy, would be particularly timely. The statement from the globe-spanning organizations notes that "we cannot afford to wait until the next financial crisis to ensure that countries' WTO commitments do not interfere with or chill financial regulation."


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The Only Way Is Down: 99 Levels To Hell
In the weather forecast that plays in my imagination every morning, a dignified dog wearing a monocle points at a map of Blighty with his left forepaw, sips a cup of tea and laughs as he tells me: "It's looking like a good day for Spelunky." He's never wrong, Bertie Stockings, because every day is a good day for a spot of Spelunky. A new warm front may have arrived in the form of 99 Levels To Hell, a roguelike platformer with "over 25 monsters to discover and battle, as well as over 50 power ups and weapons to get your grubby mitts on. More unusual findings include casinos, elevators and secret rooms." Purchasing now provides beta access and the full release is on Feb 26th. I've already got my grubby mitts on a copy so expect thoughts post-launch.
So much blood!
The game can be purchased at Desura, with beta access immediately unlocked, and will also launch at GOG on the 26th.


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BMW has announced that the US is officially getting a version of the M3 Frozen Black Edition Coupe.
The 2011 M3 Frozen Black Edition Coupe features BMW Individual Frozen Black exterior paint with a deep metallic luster to accentuate the athletic lines of the legendary M3. Extended Novillo Leather with unique red-contrast stitching is also specified, as are M3 GTS black wheels, red brake calipers, and gloss black exterior trim elements.
The M3 Frozen Black Edition Coupe is powered by the same 414-hp 4.0L V8 as the M3 and reaches 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds.
Only 20 units of the 2011 M3 M3 Frozen Black Edition Coupe will be available with a starting price at $79,650.
The 2011 BMW Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – June 10th, 2011… BMW of North America today announced a production run of twenty identically-equipped 2011 Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupes for the United States. The 2011 Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe features BMW Individual Frozen Black exterior paint with a deep metallic luster to accentuate the athletic lines of the legendary M3. Extended Novillo Leather with unique red-contrast stitching is also specified, as are M3 GTS black wheels, red brake calipers, and gloss black exterior trim elements. With the Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe, BMW is celebrating the availability of its exotic Frozen paint colors under the custom-tailored BMW Individual program. MSRP will be $79,650 [1], and a complete equipment list is provided at the end of this press release.
BMW M enthusiasts may call to reserve the first nineteen 2011 Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupes by dialing 1-800-245-4269 no earlier than 11:30AM Eastern Time (8:30AM Pacific) on Thursday, June 16, 2011. Nineteen of the twenty Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupes will become available for delivery in late June 2011 through Authorized BMW Centers, and the production run will be completed by the end of July 2011. The twentieth car will be held by BMW of North America and may be sold at a later date.
Each 2011 Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe will be powered by the award-winning 4.0-liter, 414-horsepower M V8 engine, equipped with BMW's M Double Clutch Transmission (M DCT) which lowers the 0-60mph acceleration time of the M3 to 4.5 seconds from 4.7. Redline is a breathtaking 8,400 rpm.
The 2011 Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe continues the tradition of innovation and passion for driving by incorporating key changes to the M3's dynamic qualities. The included Competition Package reduces vehicle ride height by 10mm and includes M3 GTS 19″ wheels (in black for this Edition) with wider offset for enhanced stability, standard Electronic Damping Control with enhanced programming, and higher-threshold programming for the M Dynamic Mode.
About BMW Individual Frozen Paint Colors.
The special BMW Individual matte paintwork on the Frozen Black Edition M3 adds a rare metallic luster to the vehicle. Compared to conventional exterior colors with gloss finish, the sculpture-like character of Frozen Black paint highlights the athletic contours of the M3. To achieve this luster, a special BMW-developed silk matte clear coat is applied over the Black Metallic base coat. BMW Individual's Frozen paints meet or exceed all BMW standards for durability and longevity, and feature a full factory warranty. Special care guidelines are provided to customers and authorized BMW centers to prevent the finish from becoming glossy.
Four Generations of BMW M3.
Racing provided the reason for the original M3's 1986 creation. BMW produced the M3 as a road-going homologation version of its 3 Series to gain eligibility to compete in the German Touring Car Championship. Popularity and strong consumer demand substantiated the case to continue developing the M3, making it both a better performer and more inviting road car as it evolved along with the underlying 3 Series, the company's most popular vehicle. In 1988, North Americans met the BMW M3 for the first time, and its high-revving 2.3-liter inline-4 with 192-hp became a legend on this side of the Atlantic.
The next generation M3 arrived in the 1995 model year with a 3.0-liter (and later, 3.2-liter) 240-hp inline-6 powerplant. That car began the next chapter of M3 Racing history which lasted a decade on both sides of the Atlantic. In 1997, the first M3 Sedan joined the family and the M3 Convertible followed shortly thereafter.
The third-generation M3, available from 2001-2006 as a coupe and convertible, again was offered with six-cylinder power, this time providing a remarkable 333 hp from 3.2 liters. From the 2002 model year, this M3 marked BMW's first offering of the Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG) for the United States.
The fourth and current generation M3 was introduced for the 2008 model year as a Coupe, Sedan, and Convertible, featuring an all-new 4.0-liter, 414-horsepower V8 engine with eight individual throttle bodies and an 8,400-rpm redline. Showcasing its remarkable performance envelope, the newest M3 Coupe serves as the basis for the M3 GT2 race car, which successfully competes in endurance races against the most exotic cars from around the world in the American Le Mans Series. A pair of BMW M3 GT2s are preparing to take on the 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend. American BMW team driver Joey Hand is looking to add to his wins at both the Daytona 24 Hours and the Twelve Hours of Sebring earlier this year.
Equipment List, Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe:
BMW Individual Frozen Black Exterior Paint
Black Extended Novillo leather with Red Contrast Stitching on seats, headrests, door inserts, armrests, middle console, and door pulls.
Black M3 GTS wheels, 19″ diameter with high-performance summer tires
Red brake calipers
Gloss black kidney grills
Gloss black side-gill elements
Gloss black exhaust pipe tips
Additional specified equipment from M3 catalog:
M-DCT Transmission with Drivelogic
Competition Package
Lowered suspension
Sport mapping for EDC/DSC
Premium Package 2
Power folding auto-dimming mirrors
Universal garage-door opener
Power front seats
Carbon Leather interior trim
Interior mirror with compass
BMW Assist with Bluetooth
Convenience Package
Anti-theft alarm system
Comfort Access keyless entry system
Park Distance Control (rear)
Navigation System
iPod and USB adapter
Real-time Traffic Information
Heated Front Seats
Satellite Radio with 1-year subscription
BMW Individual Enhanced Premium Sound System
[1] Including $875 Destination & Handling and excluding $1,300 federal gas guzzler tax.